Stage Name

Birth Name

Imogene Coca

Imogene Fernandez
de Coca

Doris Hickenlooper (YSOS)

Imogene's father José Fernandez de Coca,
was a conductor at a small Philadelphia opera house, and her mother
Sadie Brady Coca performed as a dancer in a vaudeville magic act.
Her parents enrolled in various lessons such as piano at 5, singing
at 6, and dance classes at age 7. She made her stage debut as
9-year-old dancer, later a solo singing stint at age 11. Alltho
she was vibrant on stage, off stage she was very shy.

By her early teens she was already a seasoned
vaudeville performer. She eventually left Philadelphia at age
15 for New York where she obtained work as a dancer by dancing
at Jimmy Durante's Silver Slipper Nightclub.

For the next 30 years, music and dance
would become her staple. She performed in dance troupes of musical
revues aa well as doing her own acts in various Manhattan clubs.

The 5' 3" Imogene Coca is best remembered
today for playing opposite comedian Sid Caesar in the live 90-minute
"Your Show of Shows (YSOS)," which ran every Saturday
night on NBC from February 1950 to June 1954. It was this show
that would make her a household name. She danced with many star
dancers on and off the show as well as being nominated for an
Prime time Emmy numerous times and winning once, a Broadway's
1978 Tony Award as Best Actress in a Featured Musical Role... for "On the Twentieth Century," and the American
Comedy Awards, USA for best comedian in 1988 and finally winning
her star on the "Walk of Fame" in Hollywood, Ca. (At
6220 Hollywood Blvd.) ...
More Photos